Hill leaders weigh tough Syria vote

The biggest political fight over Syria may be Republican on Republican. | AP Photo

“The White House is going to have to make a major effort to make the case for any military action to Congress and the American people,” said a GOP leadership aide.

In a boost for Obama, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) warned his colleagues that voting against a Syria resolution would have serious repercussions for both the president and U.S. foreign policy.

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“For two years, the Iranian-backed Syrian regime has been free to engage in the slaughter of its own people with little but rhetorical responses from the United States. Now that the regime has crossed our red line regarding the use of chemical weapons, we must carefully consider whether the credibility of the United States necessitates military action to enforce that position,” Rogers said in a statement on Saturday. “We must also consider what message a failure to act would send to other adversaries and our allies around the world. And finally, we must debate whether a decision by Congress denying the President authority to respond with military force would fulfill U.S. national security interests.”

For her part, Pelosi has already endorsed a U.S. strike against the Syrian government over its use of chemical weapons against civilians.

“It is clear that the American people are weary of war. However, Assad gassing his own people is an issue of our national security, regional stability and global security,” Pelosi said after a Thursday conference call between National Security Council officials and 26 high-ranking lawmakers.

Over on the Senate side of the Capitol, Reid issued a lengthy statement backing “the limited use of American military force” in Syria, but he will not schedule a vote on the draft resolution sent over by the White House until the week of Sept. 9.

”I believe the use of military force against Syria is both justified and necessary,” Reid said. “I believe the United States has a moral obligation as well as a national security interest in defending innocent lives against such atrocities, and in enforcing international norms such as the prohibition against the use of chemical weapons. Assad must be held accountable for his heinous acts, and the world looks to us for leadership.”

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), will hold a hearing on Syria on Tuesday despite the Senate recess, Reid announced. Menendez has already thrown his support behind limited U.S. action in Syria.

Two top Senate Democrats — Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) — have already said they potentially could support limited strikes against the Assad regime.

Levin has been much more wary in discussing a U.S. campaign in Syria, saying he wants more support from Arab allies before using American military power.

McConnell may face the biggest challenge of any Hill leader on the Syria question, one that could dog him through the rest of his 2014 reelection campaign.

Paul — who McConnell is leaning on heavily during in his bid for another term — has already come out against any American intervention in Syria. If McConnell, who has traditionally backed U.S. military campaigns, goes against Paul, it could hurt his own standing in the Bluegrass State. But if McConnell votes against Obama, it will look like a politically driven decision and open him up for major criticism from Democrats and the White House.

Democratic and GOP Senate aides noted that with the Senate not likely to come back early to vote on the Syria resolution, McConnell has time to try to figure out his response.

McConnell issued a non-committal statement on Saturday noting that Obama told him he would seek congressional approval for a Syria campaign without disclosing how the Kentucky Republican would vote on the measure.

“Today (Saturday) the President advised me that he will seek an authorization for the use of force from the Congress prior to initiating any combat operations against Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons,” McConnell said. “The President’s role as commander-in-chief is always strengthened when he enjoys the expressed support of the Congress.”

Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas), who also faces potential primary challenges from his right, has also signaled he may oppose a Syria resolution.

And Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, came out firmly against the Syria resolution on Saturday night.

”Congress will soon use its Constitutionally-vested power to debate and vote on whether to intervene in Syria,” Moran said in a statement released by his personal office. “America cannot afford another conflict that taxes our resources without achieving goals that advance American interests, and I will not support authorizing military action against Syria at this time.”